After our energizing lunch at Lean and Green Cafe, we explored downtown La Jolla and all of its of shops and cafes. Very cute and laid back!
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Then, we headed over to a popular look out point in La Jolla with 360 views of the city and surrounding area.
…and back to the beach!
We realized the sun was about to set, so we raced over to the ocean to try and get some pictures before the sun went down. Sunset lighting is a photographer’s dream! Everything glows :)
There were these cute little birds that we called ‘roadrunner’s’ because they would SPEED RUN across the sand…I’m pretty sure they could outrun me! Anyone know what kind of bird this is?
meep meep!!!
These guys were a bit more chilled out and wondering what the commotion was all about…
There were so many surfers out taking advantage of the waves and lots of women surfers too. So bad ass. I would love to learn to surf, if I could get over my shark fear!
After booting it about 10 minutes, we finally made it to the look out point for a sunset pic. :)
By sunset, there were a ton of seals on the shore and on the rocks. At least 100 or more. It looked like they were retiring for the night! It’s so cute how they all snuggle up close with one another.
After watching the sunset, we headed back to the hotel and decided where to go to dinner. We decided on a Mexican place called Rancho’s.
A peek inside Rancho’s fun decor.
The restaurant has meat, vegetarian, and vegan options…and I even think some gluten-free options too.
We started with the organic blue corn nachos with black beans, guacamole, pico de galo, and Daiya cheese. Both of us quickly claimed them to be the BEST NACHOS EVER! Quite a claim, I know. If you overheard us you would have instantly thought we were nuts because we could not stop talking about them.
Can you see how the nacho chips are flakey and layered?? They were incredible!
I think we managed to eat about half and then had to stop eating so we wouldn’t ruin our appetite!
Eric ordered the chicken and beef enchiladas for his main:
And I ordered the vegan enchiladas with green, mole, and red sauce. One was packed with avocado, another with roasted eggplant, and another with beans.
Don`t judge a book by its cover. ;)
We couldn’t get over how huge the portions were! I could barely finish half my plate.
I must say, this picture wins for OSG food photo of 2011.
Eric said I should submit it in a photo contest, heh.
If that picture doesn’t make you want to eat there, I don’t know what would.
We finished the night with a lil nightcap!
Biscotti Giveaway Winner
A big congrats goes out to Stephanie W for winning the biscotti giveaway! Stephanie, I have emailed you to collect your info. Congrats!
I love enchiladas!! And those nachos look AMAZING!! I like to make vegan nachos at home- we don’t have any restaurants close by that make them. love Mexican food <3
Wow, beautiful sunset pictures!! love the seals :) those nachos look muy DELICIOUS!
I love your pics and San Diego is such a beautiful place! You should make it up to LA sometime too! Did you have a chance to check out George’s in La Jolla? It’s such a great restaurant, one of my favorites there!
Hahah I think the food looks good! Great pictures :)
The photos are amazing! Thanks again for contributing so much amazing stuff to the World Wide Waste. :)
I absolutely LOVE sand pipers! :) Everytime we see them at the beach, I just want to grab one, cuddle with it, give it kisses, then send it on its merry little way.
The enchiladas look SO incredible!! These posts are making me want to plan a trip to California ASAP!
your beach pictures are gorgeous! also I believe the little birds are sandpipers. cute, right? I hope you had a good vacation! Sure sounds like you did. :)
Amazing photo, the seals on the rock! Glad to have found your blog, great photos, fun posts and healthy vegan food!
I think they are either sanderlings or sandpipers. I love how I’m commenting on this blog for the first time about birds and not something vegan related haha! I’m taking an Ornithology class in college so I was pretty excited about this. Love your blog and am sooo excited to try the biscotti! Before I went vegan I ate my mom’s biscotti and I can’t wait to eat it again. Mmm!! Happy travelling!!
Thanks Jilian!!
What beautiful photos! And holy yum, those vegan enchiladas sound amazing.
That meal looks amazing…I can’t believe how insanely big the portions are. I need to eat in San Diego !
I totally agree about wanting to learn to surf but being too scared of the sharks. I know it’s irrational but I can’t help it!
I love those little birds! I’m pretty sure they’re called Snowy Plovers, I used to see them all the time walking on the beach :)
That pile of nachos & plate of enchiladas looks awesome! I might have to make mexican food tonight now – yum!
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful pics. I really want to try to recreate your vegan enchiladas–they look amazing!! Also, the pic of you walking along the beach with the sun beginning to set is so very pretty :)
The pictures you managed to capture on the beach are absolutely gorgeous.
I love living on the west coast- I can’t imagine living anywhere else!
And Rancho looks amazing! It’s so hard to find good mexican restaurants that offer vegan options. Next time I’m down in San Diego I’m definitely going to have to make a point to eat there!
That food looks ah-may-zing! The “layered, flaky” nachos might be the kind I like to make at home when I need to use up old tortilla wraps to make space in the freezer ;) you just cut the wrap into triangles, spritz lightly with spray oil, sprinkle on any seasonings/spices you want and then bake in a low-medium oven until lightly browned and crispy (5-10 mins). I’m sure you could make blue tortilla chips that way with blue corn wraps if you can find them! Either way it makes for really savoury, flaky chips and you can add any flavours you want.
Your Mexican meal looks so good! I love making Mexican at home, but I haven’t eaten Mexican at a restaurant in years… they don’t seem too popular in our area! Do you recommend any in the Burlington/Oakville/Milton area?
Gorgeous photos (of the sunset)! And those nachos look divine. I think I need to make some rawchos! The enchiladas look delish too